PRESS RELEASE

UNODC and INTERPOL reinforce joint action to counter crime, terrorism

Lyon/Vienna, 6 June 2018 - Yury Fedotov, Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), visited INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon today to discuss enhancing cooperation to support countries in countering crime and terrorism threats.

The UNODC Executive Director and INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock opened a steering committee meeting to review progress under a joint action plan and cooperation agreement, as well as explore opportunities for further strategic and operational coordination, including through UNODC field offices.

"The partnership between UNODC and INTERPOL capitalizes on our respective strengths to deliver the most effective criminal justice and law enforcement support to Member States," said Mr. Fedotov. "With the joint action plan and cooperation arrangement, we have a solid foundation for further advancing our work together to prevent and address threats posed by organized crime, drugs and terrorism, and contribute to international security and sustainable development."

"At a time of unprecedented threats against society, maximizing our resources through cooperation with UNODC will help us better support our member countries in tackling criminal enterprises," said INTERPOL Secretary General Stock.

In particular he emphasized the need for enhanced partnerships to address record levels of opium poppy cultivation and opiate production in Afghanistan, as well as related potential threats, including increased sources of terrorist financing and supply-driven expansion of drug markets.

UNODC developed "Strategic Actions to Respond to the global Threats of Opiates", or SARTO, to reinforce international support to Afghanistan to address drug demand and supply reduction, alternative development and crime prevention.